COVID 19 Town of South Hadley Protocol
From Emergency Management Director Sharon Hart and Town Administrator Michael J. Sullivan
The first step to staying healthy during this COVID 19 outbreak is using practical and common-sense measures.
While the risk of the coronavirus to Massachusetts residents remains low, the risk for contracting influenza remains high and residents are urged to get the flu shot if they have not already done so. To prevent any virus, people are advised to take many of the same steps they do to help prevent colds and the flu, including:
- Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home when feeling sick
During a Public Health Emergency, the EMD may require:
- Social Distancing (avoiding large public gatherings, increasing work spacing if warranted, following personal hygiene guidelines)
- Quarantine (restrict movement of persons suspected of being exposed to contagion)
- Isolation (separation of persons testing presumptive or positive to a contagious disease)
The EMD will direct the following protocol levels based on a presumptive, or confirmed, (including community-transmitted) case(s).
Level 1: Town-supported recreational activities through the Council on Aging or the Recreation Department will be suspended. The Gaylord and South Hadley Public Library will be closed, and all activities associated with those entities will be suspended.
Level 2: Town Hall will be closed to all public access, public meetings will be suspended, employees will report to work when healthy, and practice social distancing and good hygiene during work. This directive will apply to SHELD and DPW offices as well. DPW employees or other employees working externally (Parks, Highway, WWTP) will continue to work, but limit contact with the public and practice good hygiene and social distancing when possible. Police lobby will be closed to public with intercom access only. Ledges clubhouse will be limited to no more than 20 persons at a time.
Level 3: The following offices in Town Hall will “remote to work” to the best of their ability and capacity - Planning/Conservation, Assessors, Accounting, Administration, Clerk, Treasurer/Collector, Veteran Services, Human Resources and Recreation staff. Inspectional Services (Building, Wiring, Electrical, Health) will only do inspections on an emergency basis and will otherwise work remotely.
Level 4: Municipal services will be suspended or significantly impacted.
We strongly advise all citizens to sign up for Civic Ready immediately, to allow fast and accurate dissemination of information. Go to https://www.southhadley.org/517/Alerts-Notifications to sign up.